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Our Ideas about "Wilderness"
As our nation has grown, our views of wilderness have changed. Native Americans' lives were closely linked to the rhythms of nature, while the Puritans saw wilderness as an untamed force to be conquered. As explorers and settlers moved west, they encountered vast stretches of wilderness, which they saw as infinite and economically valuable.
But it took much longer for the idea that America's wild places had intrinsic worth to gain widespread ground. Changing attitudes and dedicated grassroots efforts brought citizens and national leaders together to ensure that the country's wilderness areas would remain intact for future generations. |